Rolling-mill.



No. 664,645. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

J. KENNEDY.

ROLLING MILL.

(Applicatiun filed June 29, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheats$heet l.

WITNESSES Patented Dec. 25,1900. J1 KENNEDY.

BOLLlNG MILL.

\Application filed June 29, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR No. 664,645. Patented Dec. 25,1900. J. KENNEDY.

ROLLING MILL.

. (Applicafiiqn filed, Jung 29 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOR No. 664,645. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

(Applicatiop filed June 29, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 sheets-sham 4.

m: NQFRvS PETERS co, PHOTOYLITMQ, wAsnmarou. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN KENNEDY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLlNG- MILL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 664,645, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed June 29,1898' Serial No. 684,717. (No model.)

To all whom, it 77mg cancer-n.-

Be it known that I, JULIAN KENNEDY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rolling-Mills, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 shows in front elevation, partlyin vertical section, the vertical rolls of a universal mill, said rolls being constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sect-ionon the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. '3 is a horizontal section on the line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4=is a detail view, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation, showing the vertical and horizontal rolls of the mill.

In the drawings, 2 2 represent the vertical rolls of a universal mill. The manner in which these rolls are supported in their housings and the manner in which they are adj ustable is novel and constitutes part of my invention. rolls have projecting from them in the manner of brackets supporting-bars 4 5, on which the frames carrying the bearings of the vertical rolls can slide. Each frame consists of two heads 6 6, in which the bearings of the rolls are set and which are connected together by a preferably integral web 7. The head 6 fits over and is supported by the bar 4, and the head 6'is fitted on the bar 5. The vertical roll has its bearings in the heads 6 6, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the head 6 is supported by a post or support 8, which extends from the plunger 9 of a small hydraulic cylinder 10, connected with a constant source of water-pressure. One end of the post bears on the head 6 and the other end on the plunger, and their ends are preferably rounded or formed like balls, so as to be freely yielding laterally. As shown in Fig. 1, the two vertical rolls are journaled and supported in like manner, the parts of one being distinguished in the drawings from the other by the prime-mark.

In order that the rolls may be adjustablethat is, movable toward and away from each The housings 3 of the horizontal otherI employscrew-shafts 11 11, which extend from end to end of the housings through the heads 6 and 6, respectively, of the two rolls, each shaft being made with 'a right and left hand thread, so that when the shafts are turned by suitable gearing 12 the frames carrying the bearings of the rolls sliding on the brackets 4; 5 will approach or recede, according as the screws are driven in one direction or the other. The lateral strain exerted on the rolls when at work is thus taken up, not by housings, as heretofore, but by the adjusting-screws 11 l1, and the structure is therefore self-contained. In this respect, as well as in the supporting of the bearings of the rolls at one side on supporting-bars on which they can slide back and forth and in the adjustment of the rolls as above described, my invention is distinctly novel. Heretofore it has been the practice to set the bearings of the rolls between horizontal guidebars. The rolls are supported in every position of their adjustment by the posts 8, and as these posts are upheld by the yielding plungers of hydraulic cylinders the lateral swinging motion of the posts necessary to permit the adjustment is made possible.

The horizontal rolls 13 14 of the universal mill illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 have intermediate portions 19 b, which are plain and adapted to the shaping of slabs or plates, and end grooves c c c. The vertical rolls 2 2 have such range of lateral adjustment that they can be moved out beyond the end of the horizontal rolls into the positions illustrated by dotted lines. This is important because it enables the universal mill to be used not only in the ordinary manner of universal mills for the purpose of rolling slabs, but when the Vertical rolls are drawp out laterally to the end of their adjustment the grooves of the horizontal rolls may be used like those of billet-rolls. I may thus take an ingot of metal and after reducing it at the middle pass I) b, by the conjoint action of the horizontal and vertical rolls, to proper dimensions to fit the grooves of the horizontal rolls I may introduce it into said grooves and there complete the reduction, orI may use the grooved passes independently of the universal mill. The driving mechanism of the vertical rolls is also novel and of especial utility. Each vertical roll carries at the upper end of its neck a worm-wheel 15, and in gear with each wormwheel are two worms 16 16, mounted with feather-and-spline connection upon drivingshafts 17 17. The two worms of each roll 16 16 or 16 16 are carried in a box 18, and each box has sleeves 19, which fit around the shaft and afford suitable bearings therefor. It will thus be seen that theworm-wheels and the Worms and boxes are carried by the respective rolls back and forth in their adjustment, the worms sliding on the shafts 17 17, but preserving always their connection with the wheels. The worms 16 16 are of opposite pitch from the Worms 16 16 and the shafts 17 17 are oppositely rotated, so that the rolls are driven in opposite directions in every position of their adjustment. In order to permit the worms to adjust themselves somewhat to the worm-wheels in order to accommodate Wear of the bearings or teeth, I support the box 18 upon the frame of the roll, not fixedly, but by a sliding connection 20, so that it may have a slight lateral motion. In such lateral motion the box will carry with it'the two worms and will cause them to ad'- just themselves automatically, so as to fit perfectly with the worm-wheel and share equally in the work of driving it.

It' will be noticed that the box 18 forms a connection between the Worms on the opposite sides of theworm-wheel, and this is a very important function, since if the bearings or teeth of either of the worms should become worn the connection between them will cause the worms to share the work of driving the wheel notwithstanding the fact of the Wear. This function can be performed not only by thelbox constructed as shown in the drawings, but by other kinds of connecting mechanism,'such as will occur to those skilled in the art, and I intend to claim this broadly in this regard.

I prefer to make the box 18 so as to inclose the worms and the worm-wheel in the manner of a casing, as shown in Fig. 2, and to provide it with a lid or cap 21. I may charge the casingwith oilor grease, so as tokeep the Worms continually in contact with a pool of the lubricant. I also preferably inclose the neck of the roll within a loose collar-22,

so as to permit access of the lubricant theresired point Without disturbing any of the other portions of the roll-carrying mechanism.

As the rolls are driven by worm-gearing applied to both sides of the worm-wheels, I apply the power to both sides thereof, thus dithe gears, but much more than proportionately relieving the wear, which in the case of heavy loads is apt to be very destructive and to be the source-of great trouble and expense when the power is applied at one side onlyofthe worm-wheel.

I do not limit the claims of the specificationto an improvement in rolling-mills unless V r f 7 so stated therein; but

What I claim is 1. Vertical rolls, having a bearing at each end, a slide-bar for each of saidbeari'ngs upon which the bearings may slide, said slide-bars being on but one side of the rollsandsecured to a suitable support, and a laterally andvertically movable support for the lower bearing of each of said rolls.

2'. In a rolling-mill, a roll having a gearwheel on its neck driven by gears mounted on shafts on each side thereof, and a box or frame containing the gearing and supported by the bearing of the roll, said box offiame and gearing being movable laterally thereon to permit automatic adjustment of the parts. 3. In a rolling-mill, a roll having a gear ico' wheel on its neck driven by gearing on both sides thereof, two driving-shafts, and aboxd v supported by the bearing of the roll and conadapted to contain a lubricant.

l. Ina rolling-mill, a roll having at its end. a worm-wheel,power-shafts at each side thereof, and worms on the shafts having traveling connections with the shafts and in gearwith the worm-wheel so as simultaneously to transmit power thereto from the power-sh'a'fts.

5. In a rolling-mill, a roll, having a gearwheel on its neck driven by gearing on both sides thereof, two driving-shafts, a box or frame supported by the bearing of the roll and sl'i'dable thereon and containing the gearing, said box being closed and adapted to contain a lubricant.

6. In a rolling-mill, rolls having at one end worm wheels, power-shafts extending along the sides thereof, worms mounted on said shafts having traveling connections with the shafts and in gear with the worm-wheels,- bearings for the rolls carrying said worms, and adjusting mechanism whereby the bearings and rolls may be moved. r

7. In a universal mill, the combination with a pair of main housings of slide-bars carried by said housings and extending beyond them,

75 viding the friction at the points of contact of and apair of vertical rolls carried on the slidesaid plunger and bearing, said connection bebars and adapted to be separated a distance ing adapted to be moved laterally. 10 equal to or greater than the distance between In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the main housings, and mechanism for adjustmy hand.

5 ing the position of the rolls. JULIAN KENNEDY.

8. ha rolling-mill, a vertical roll having Witnesses: a laterally-movable lower bearing, a cylinder L. A. CONNER, Jr., having a plunger, and. a connection between WALTER KENNEDY. 

